What is it about French girls and their nonchalant take on beauty? They have a knack for pulling off a polished but seemingly effortless look. We asked MECCA Makeup Artist Sally Axford to walk us through a classic French look step-by-step; the smudged smokey eye, the matte red lip, the glowing, fresh skin with just a hint of colour. And for extra Frenchness? We slipped her a few products from the new NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection to include in the look. The verdict? Magnifique!
1 Apply a thin layer of NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection Hydrating Glow Tint for a radiant, natural-looking base and then conceal any redness or dark under-eye circles with Chantecaille Le Camouflage Stylo.
2 For a flush of colour, dab on NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection Multiple Tint in Jo just below the apples of the cheeks and buff out with the Hourglass No.2 Brush.
4 Lightly fill in any sparse areas in the brows with the Le Sourcil Le Crayon Eyebrow Pencil then brush the brows upwards before setting with the Le Sourcil Le Gel.
5 Line the top and bottom lashline with By Terry Kohl Terrybly in Brown Stellar and diffuse with a small domed brush for a smokey effect.
6 Dab a small amount of Rodin Lip Balm onto the centre of the eyelids as well as the cheekbones, cupid’s bow and browbones for a subtle glossy highlight.
Photography by Nick Dale Makeup by Sally Axford for MECCA Hair by Natalie Virgona Shot on location at Mecca Cosmetica Toorak Road